Eternity Rites - Dargaard

Advantages: Original, excellent live
Disadvantages: No second album as yet...

...It isn't easy to provide a lengthy and detailed review of a band who have only been around for several years and have (as yet) brought out just the one album (although there is talk of a second being released this year). However, Last Rites are worthy of a mention because, aside from anything else, this is another band related to Fields of the Nephilim, and indeed they were mentioned in passing in my review of FOTN and of Rubicon. I'm not sure why Ciao have plced them in the Hard Rock, Metal and Punk section as they really ought to be in the Alternative section, which is where I asked for them to be... ah well, never mind! Last Rites was formed by Paul and Nod Wright, who were the songwriting backbone of Fields of the Nephilim and were also in Rubicon after FOTN split up. What makes them intriguing is that their sound is not... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Captivating storylines, creative ideas, great character development.
Disadvantages: Not for those who dont like vampire books

...* Lover Eternal - J R Ward * Book Two- Lover eternal is the second book of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and follows on from the first story Dark Lover. The story is set a few months after Dark lover finishes so it carry's straight on with everyone from the first book. After getting the first two books in a raffle when I finished the first book I immediately had to read this one. Each book is very addictive and I found I read this book in 2 days as I couldn't put it down again. J R Ward continues her series and after a successful response from Dark Lover returns with the second book. For those who have not read the first book or my first review, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series is a vampire fiction story which is set around 6 Warrior vampires. * Plot * The second book Lover Eternal is based in the same location... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Introduction to wit and Weatherwaxes
Disadvantages: Poor supporting cast, open ending

...containing entirely stupid male characters is unrealistic and makes his political point of equal rites laboured. Were Pratchett succeeds is in providing a short, sharp tale that while based in fantasy is obviously a political sideswipe at the "glass ceiling" for women prevalent in male dominated professions. Nonetheless, this is a good read largely due to one liners from Granny Weatherwax and observations on life by Pratchett. He has an uncanny ability to make you laugh out loud in all his novels and this is no exception. Smith: "Do you know how wizards like to be buried?" Granny Weatherwax: "Yes!" Smith: "Well, how?" Granny Weatherwax: "Reluctantly." "If broomsticks were cars, this one would be a split-window Morris Minor." At 293 pages it is short enough to hold interest throughout and doesn't have the initial drag as some... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful